The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations in Felixstowe

Felixstowe Carnival Association has planned big celebrations for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Weekend.

Felixstowe will be celebrating The Queen’s 70-year reign with a spectacular, fun-filled, four-day Platinum Jubilee weekend. Whether you’re hosting a street party, joining in with the Big Lunch, dancing to live music spanning seven decades at the Beachside events area, or taking part in one of the many exciting events planned by local community groups and organisations, there will be something for everyone in the Felixstowe community (and beyond!) to enjoy. Coordinated by Felixstowe Carnival Association, supported by Felixstowe Town Council and the Felixstowe BID, the Jubilee weekend will stretch from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 June. Each day invites a unique opportunity for celebration and, with so much scheduled for you to get involved with, Felixstowe will be the place to be!

Thursday 2 June

Official Proclamation by the Mayor of Felixstowe – The weekend of celebration will be officially put into motion on Thursday 2 June with a procession of local cadets and other groups from Felixstowe town centre at 12.30pm to the steps of the town hall. Organised by the Royal British Legion, the march will conclude at 1pm with a proclamation from the Mayor of Felixstowe from the steps of the town hall. Come along and show your support.

National Beacon Lighting at Landguard Fort – Landguard Fort joins the National Beacon Lighting on the evening of Thursday 2 June. Join us at the fort from 8pm where music will be performed by Rachel Foskett, Felixstowe Community Choir and others, before local piper, Leigh Adams, plays to the lighting of the beacon at 9.40pm, joining beacons across the country in longstanding and unbroken historical tradition of illuminations in celebration of this Royal milestone. Visit www.landguard.com for more information about the Jubilee Jubilations and other activities taking place throughout the day.

Friday 3 and Saturday 4 June

Jubilee on the Beach – On Friday 3 and Saturday 4 June, the Beachside events area will come alive with music from across the decades of The Queen’s reign. Whether you’re putting your dancing shoes on or you’re happy to sit and listen, you won’t want to miss this. Music and entertainment will begin at noon and stretch throughout both days until 10pm. From noon-4pm, a selection of community groups, schools and choirs will perform on the stage. From 4-10pm, a series of bands will perform a selection of music spanning the past 70 years. Katie Mitton, Ruby Ambrose, Are We There Yet?, Eclipse and Shane and the Korrados are just some of the performers to look forward to on Friday 3 June.

On Saturday 4 June, JS & the Lockerbillies, Toot N Skamen, Doctor & the Epics and Remoras promise to provide a finale with a flourish.

Music by the beach is just part of a weekend of seaside fun in Felixstowe. There’ll be something in the air as well as activities in the sea as a precursor to the Festival of the Sea. Join the Felixstowe Swimscapes on the beach opposite the events area for the Jolly Jubilee Swim!

Sunday 5 June

Big Lunch in the Town Centre – Sunday 5 June is the official day of the Big Lunch, which will take place in the town centre’s shared space. Pioneered in 2009, the Big Lunch encourages communities to come together and celebrate their connections. Seats are free but places are limited, so arrive early to secure yours. Bring your own refreshments and the Lions Club of Felixstowe will bring the entertainment.

Are you planning a street party to celebrate the Jubilee? Sunday 5 June is the official day to host a street party. Get your bunting out, come together with your neighbours, bake your best cake and turn your street red, white and blue in honour of Her Majesty’s 70-year reign. Share your decadently decorated street under #JubileeFelixstowe on Facebook and Twitter to ensure that it will be seen far and wide.

Thanksgiving Service – An official Service of Thanksgiving will be held at St John’s Church at 10am on Sunday 5 June. All are welcome to attend.

Getting Involved – Local schools have been busy designing commemorative badges to mark the occasion of the Jubilee. Following many fantastic entries, each school selected a winning design to be transformed into a badge, funded by Felixstowe Town Council, for students to keep as a reminder of a spectacular weekend for many years to come. Three of the designs can be seen below.

What are your plans for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee? We want to know! For further updates, or to share how you plan to commemorate this momentous occasion, use the hashtag #JubileeFelixstowe. More information will be shared to the Visit Felixstowe website, www.visitfelixstowe.org

Details of additional plans can also be found on Felixstowe Town Council’s social media channels: @FelixstoweTC on Twitter and ‘Felixstowe Town Council’ on Facebook.

For more information about all the activities being held to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, watch out for the official events programme from Felixstowe Town Council and Felixstowe Carnival Association, which will be published closer to the event.

Friday 17 to Sunday 19 June

Festival of the Sea – As part of the Festival of Suffolk festivities, Essex and Suffolk are combining to celebrate our sea and shorelines with activities all weekend along the coastline that unites our counties. From sea shanties to rowing boats, stand-up paddleboards to maritime museums, coastal walks to swimming, all ages can celebrate the sea, discover ways to treasure and conserve its resources, and help others to benefit. A parade of boats will convene at the confluence of the Rivers Stour and Orwell from 2pm on Saturday 18 June and will pass spectators at Landguard Fort at 3pm.

Read more about the Festival of the Sea on the Visit Felixstowe website: www.visitfelixstowe.org

Felixstowe Carnival Weekend – Felixstowe Carnival Association would also like to invite you to join them for Felixstowe Carnival Weekend, July 22-24. The theme is ‘Heroes and Villains’.